The Importance of Exercise in Personal Development, or Why I go to The Gym Even Though I Hate It

By Carlon Haas | September 24, 2007

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I hate the gym. Seriously. I don’t like going. I don’t like the way it smells. And unlike so many other people at the gym, I’m not into the whole “people watching” aspect.

For lack of a better word, I find the whole gym experience boring.

People who know me find this answer surprising since I go the gym 5 days a week. In fact, just the other day a friend of mine told me that I must “lover” going to the gym. Well, I don’t “love” it.

So, why do I go to the gym 5 days a week?

Actually, there are a few reasons why I do it, and it all has to do with the benefits of exercise. I do a combination of strength training and cardiovascular exercise. In my particular case, I do very little cardio and more strength training.

I don’t train to bulk up, but simply to maximize the muscle I already have. Why do I keep doing it even though I claim to hate it?

Well, I might not like the gym, but I do like to exercise. And there are 3 good reasons why I keep doing it.

1. More energy

Some people ask me if I feel tired after working out. Far from feeling tired, I get an energy boost. A month ago I was working 12-hour days for a week. And I worked out during my lunch hour (yes, I did eat properly which is just an important for health as exercise).

By the end of the day, I still had plenty of energy, whereas others were happy to call it a day.

2. Improved mental state

It may have something to do with that energy, but I always feel better after working out. And it seriously reduces my stresses. I used to find it odd that on the occasions where I was feeling a little down that I had absolutely no desire to work out.

I thought about this while I was in a good mood and it made sense. When you feel down, you tend to want to keep felling down. Exercising actually makes you feel better. So, the “down mind” wishes to deny you access to something that will kill it.

And exercise does a pretty good job of it.

One other thing I noticed is that when I exercise regularly I sleep better. And I need to sleep less.

3. Improved appearance

Yes, I am not above caring for my appearance. And, no, I don’t sit around looking at myself in the mirror. But improved appearance does make you feel better about yourself. That’s just a plain fact.

I’ve lost a lot of weight since I’ve started exercising. Part of it is because of a better diet, which is the other key component with exercising if you want to lose weight. But exercising regularly and a sensible diet have kept the weight off.

And my keeping a healthy weight and looking better, I feel better.

So, that is why I go to the gym. For those who do not exercise, I would recommend giving it a try for 30 days to see the benefits for yourself. I still hate the whole gym experience, but I do love to exercise. And I like feeling good.

When you are satisfied with your health and appearance, it creates a real foundation for personal growth. That’s why I consider exercising to be a key component in personal development.

Oh, and I heard a rumor that when you’re healthy, you can live longer. And I’m all for that.

Just let me know if that rumor is true.

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